Reinforced-concrete bridge construction



RETNFORCED CONCRETE BRIDGE CONSTRUCTION. APPLICATION FILED 1513.11,1915. RENEwED JUNE 25.1919.

1,329,643. Patented B61191920.

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REINFDRCED CONCRETE BRIDGE CONSTRUCTION APPLlcATloN man' FB.11,1915.RENEwED 1uNE 25.1919. 1,329,643.

Patented Feb. 3, 1920.

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WILLIAM M. THOMAS, 0F LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA.

REINFORCED-CONCRETE BRIDGE CONSTRUCTION.

Application filed February 11, 1915, Serial No. 7,455.

To all 'LU/wm may concern:

Be it known that I, VILLIAM M. THOMAS, a citizen of the United States,residing at Los Angeles, in the county of Los Angeles and State ofCalifornia, have invented a new and useful Reinforced-Concrete BridgeConstruction, of which the following` is a specification.

This invention relates to three-hinge arch bridges built of reinforcedconcrete and the main object of the invention is to provide means at thehinge of the arch for giving a bearing which will result in mostadvantageous distribution of the strains and will' prevent distortion orundue strains on the arch members. l

Another object of the invention is to provide in connection with an archof a reinforced concrete bridge a pier support having a hinge engagementwith the arch which substantially eliminates bending or twistingvstrains due to unequalized bearings.

Another object of the invention is to provide, in a reinforced concretebridge, means for temporarily mounting` or engaging the several portionsof such bridge in suchmanner as to provide for equalization of thebearing strains.

Other objects of the invention will appear hereinafter.

The accompanying drawings illustrate the invention, and referringthereto:

Figure 1 is a longitudinal vertical section of one span of a three-hingearch bridge constructed in accordance with my invention;

Fig. 2 is a front elevation of one of the hinge bearing plates ormembers;

Fig. 3 is a side elevation of said bearing plate; Y

Fig. 4 is a side elevation of the ball or spherical bearing member forsaid hinge bearing; Y

Fig. 5 is aside elevation; and

F 6 is a. front elevation of a` modified i fjornr of thev sphericalbearing member;

Fig. 7 is a side elevation, and

Fig. S isy a front elevation of another modification of said bearingmember;

Fig 9 is a horizontal section through the hinge at the crown of thearch;

Fig. 10 is `a vertical sectionthrough said hinge;

Fig. 11 is a horizontal section taken just Specification of LettersPatent.

Patented Feb. 3, 1920.

Renewed `Tune 25, 1919. Serial No. 306,716.

below the floor showing the arch and hinge thereof in plan; i

Fig. 11a is a vertical section of a modified form of the universalhinge-joint;

Fig. 12 is a vertical section of a portion of the span showing theapplication of my invention `to the construction of an arch member forsaid span, the separate preformed portions and the means for tem'-porarily mounting said portions bearing construction Fig. 18 is asection on line :cl3-m13, in Fig. 12; y

Fig. 1li is a section on line alt-:014, in Fig. 12.

Referring to Figs. 1 to 11, the bridge therein illustrated comprisespiers or abutments 1 and a span extending between said piers orabutments and comprising two arch members each formed with arch beams orribs 2 resting at their lower ends on said piers or abutments andengaging at theirupper ends by hinges as hereinafter described.

The hinges at the crown of the arch comprise ball or spherical members10 and hinge members 6 on the respective arch members 2. Each hingemember 6 may be formed as a plate of suiiicient area to extend oversubstantially the end face of the arch rib or -beam 2 so as todistribute the pressure over said face, and said plate may be pro videdwith flanges or plates 11 extending therefrom into the concrete 15 ofthe arch beam or rib; said plates or flanges 11 extending, for example,vertically and being connected at their inner ends to horizontallyextending plates or beams 16 whereby the bearing plates 11 are firmlytied or bonded to the concrete body of the arch beam or rib. Thereinforcing rods or members 13 of the arch beam or rib areinterconnected with these bearing plates by extending in a suitablemanner between said plates and by cement molded in contact with saidplates, rods and their connected metallic members. In the front or outerface of each plate 6 is formed a socket or recess 6 formed as a portionof the surface of a sphere, and a ball or spherical bearing member 10 isadapted to fit and engage in said socket or recessin each bearing plateso that the bear-r ing engagement or connection between the two arch ribmembers at the crown of the to provide for equalization pressure overthe bearing surfaces.

2. In a reinforced concrete bridge construction, the combination of twoarch beams provided with hinge means for giving a hinge bearing betweensaid members, said hinge beams comprising plates for distributing thebearing over said arch members, a ball and socket means on said platesproviding a universal joint bearing between the said arch members.

8. In a reinforced concrete bridge construction, the combination ofreinforced concrete arch members, plates on said members and tiedthereto, said base being pro vided with bearing sockets formed withspherical surfaces, and a bearing member interposed between said platesand having spherical surfaces fitting in said sockets.

l. In a reinforced concrete bridge construction, the combination of twobridge members, ball and socket means on said members for giving auniversal joint bearing between said members, and tie means connectingvsaid members.

5. In a reinforced concrete bridge construction, the combination of tworeinforced concrete bridge members, bearing plates on the respectivemembers provided with ball sockets, a spherical bearing fitting in saidsockets, tie means connecting said plates, and cement molded over andembedding said tie means and bearing members.

6. In a reinforced concrete bridge construction, the combination of twoarch menr bers, ball and socket hinge means between said members,providing a universal hinge joint therefor, and metallic means extendingbetween said members and adapted to engage said members with a limitedamount of play to limit the amount of separation of said members.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand at Los Angeles,California, this 2d day of February, 1915.

VILLIAM M. THGMAS.

In presence of- LoRA M. BOWERS, L. BELLE WEAVER.

